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Transformation of anthracene on various cation-modified clay minerals

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Abstract

In this study, anthracene was employed as a probe to explore the potential catalytic effect of clay minerals in soil environment. Clay minerals saturated with various exchangeable cations were tested. The rate of anthracene transformation follows the order: Fe–smectite >> Cu–smectite > Al–smectite ≈ Ca–smectite ≈ Mg–smectite ≈ Na–smectite. This suggests that transition-metal ions such as Fe(III) play an important role in anthracene transformation. Among Fe(III)-saturated clays, Fe(III)–smectite exhibits the highest catalytic activity followed by Fe(III)–illite, Fe(III)–pyrophyllite, and Fe(III)–kaolinite, which is in agreement with the interlayer Fe(III) content. Moreover, effects by two common environmental factors, pH and relative humidity (RH), were evaluated. With an increase in pH or RH, the rate of anthracene transformation decreases rapidly at first and then is leveled off. GC-MS analysis identifies that the final product of anthracene transformation is 9,10-anthraquinone, a more bioavailable molecule compared to anthracene. The transformation process mainly involves cation-π bonding, electron transfer leading to cation radical, and further oxidation by chemisorbed O2. The present work provides valuable insights into the abiotic transformation and the fate of PAHs in the soil environment and the development of contaminated land remediation technologies.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41301543 and 21173261), the “One Hundred Talents” program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, International Science & Technology Cooperation Program of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, (20126017), the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) “Cross-Cooperation Program” for Creative Research Teams, the CAS “Western Action Plan” (KGZD-EW-502), the “Western Light Western Doctor” Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XBBS201112), the “Open Project” of the State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse (PCRRF12020), and the “Western Light Joint Scholar” program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (LHXZ201001) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Environmental Sciences and Technology, Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics & Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Functional Materials and Devices for Special Environments, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China

    Li Li, Hanzhong Jia, Xiyou Li & Chuanyi Wang

  2. The Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100049, China

    Li Li

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  1. Li Li
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  2. Hanzhong Jia
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Correspondence to Hanzhong Jia or Chuanyi Wang.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Li, L., Jia, H., Li, X. et al. Transformation of anthracene on various cation-modified clay minerals. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 1261–1269 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3424-4

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